St. Landry democrat., 1887-04-23
LITTLE JEROME.
Placed in Cage of His Fathers Menagefie
With the Panther and the Lloness-he
Saved the Circus.

With the Panther and the Lioness-He
Saved the Circus.
Once upon time there was man
who kept menageric, and III 1t were
several great animals and some smaller
ones.
This man who owned the mcnagerie,
or travelling geological garden, was
Kind; so was his wife. They had one
fittle child, a boy: and at the time of
my story this child was two years old,
or thereabouts-a fine, chubby little
boy. who was pleased with the animals
and birds, and would laugh and chat
with them in his own little way until
even the mischievous monkeys were
glad to see him.
The menageric travelled through the
country. 1t was in France. People
came to see the performing elephant
and the other creatures. and watched
little Jerome ride Hescules-that was
the elephant name-and play a few
tricks.
I have told you that the man who
owned the menagerie was good and
kind. So he was, but he had enemies,
and one enemy in particular-a lazy,
idle man, who had once owned this
very menagcrie, who was too idle and
cruel to keep it. SO he sold the animals.
and spent the money in idleness. But
when he saw how well the other man
was getting on, how much money he
| was making, how the animals liked him,
and when he remembered that he him.
self could never do this, he got very
angry. He was greedy and jealous; he
| did not want to work, yet he wanted
money, and was angry with Jerome's
father for making a success of what he
| (Maltait) only failed in. This Maltait
said he would be ''revenged.'
What do you think he did? 1t was
bad, wicked action, and only cruel
man would have thought of such a
thing. He printed bills, and let all the
people know that on certain day, in
a certain town. Mr.. Bonnet's little son
would 90 into the panther's den, and
sit there. Do you know why he said
this? Because said he to himself,
ga great number of people will come to
see the show, and am sure Bonnet will
not let his boy go into the cage. Then
the people will be angry, and pull down
the show, perhaps, OF do some damage. :"
When the menagerie reached the
town, Mr.. Bonnet, Jerome's father,
was very much surprised to see the bills
saying that his dear little Jerome would
90 into the cage with the lioness and
the panther, which lived together, and
sit with the savage beasts. His wife
was in terrible way. She cried, and
begged her husband to find out who
had done such wicked thing. The
people were rough, and liked rough
scenes. They wanted to see the little
boy in the cage, and even if the panther
tore him they would not have cared!
The menager was fixed up; all the
caravans with the cages were arranged
as usual, and early in the afternoon a
great crowd of rough men came, and
women and children, to see little Je-
rome in the cage. Mrs. Bonnet wanted
to tell the people it was mistake, but
her husband said: ''They will tear us
to pieces, perhaps, or burn the menage.
RE in their disappointment. l must
see what | can do"
The people came in and crushed
about. Mr.. Bonnet had fec
the animals, and they were
quiet. Hercules" the elephant
walked about, jerome played hi:
pranks, and then the people began t.
call out for the 'cage trick as the,
said. Mr.. Bonnet made them speech
He said he had not printed the bills
and it was done without his knowledge
It had been done by some enemy, who
would be punished, no doubt, some
day. "But. if the people insisted
Eyes! yes!'' they insisted. He mus
put the child in the cage!
Then Mr.. Bonnet got very
faint. He did not dare refuse
and yet his heart was sad. Hi
dear little son might be torn in pieces
but he must do as the people said OF
the whole menagerie might be destroy
ed. So he said: Every well, ladies
and gentlemen; for to-day only vii